Washing-machine.



R. RAINALTER. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1906.

Patented May 11, 1909.

v lI V/TESEZIS:

A TTO/E/VE V .111: NORRIS PETERS ca WASHINGTDN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFEQE.

RUDOLPH RAINALTER, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

W ASKING-MACHINE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH RAINALTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in washing-machines, and pertains more particularly to the agitator for stirring the clothes, my object being to arrange the same in such form as to avoid tearing the clothes or getting oil thereon from the bearings of the agitator driving gear.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a washing machine provided with my improved agitator. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section of said agitator showing the vertical adjustment thereof in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a broken sectional plan view of the same on line IIL-III of Fig. 1.

1 designates a wash-tub of any desired popstruotion which is normally closed by in 2.

3 designates my improved agitator for stirring the clothes, so that the suds will be forced therethrough and thoroughly cleanse the same. Agitator 3 is adjustably mounted, so that it may slide up or down and thus accommodate itself to the number of clothes within the tub. Said agitator consists of a drive-shaft 4, a self-adjusting elongated socket 5 inclosing the lower portion of said shaft, and a clothes-engaging member 6 se cured to said socket. Shaft 4 extends through lid 2 so that it may be engaged and driven by suitable mechanism, not shown, and its lower end is provided with two oppositely-disposed members 7 whereby it engages and turns socket 5. Socket 5 has two oppositely-disposed longitudinal channels 8 for the reception of members 7, and it is provided with flanges 9 whereby it is secured to the top of member 6 by screws 10, which latter, together with the walls of channels 8, prevent any loss of motion between the socket and member 6, hence there will be no loss of power. It is also provided with a number of holes 11 arranged at different Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31, 1908.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Serial No. 424,348.

heights for the reception of a set-screw 12 which extends into one of the channels so that it may contact with one of members 7, and thus limit the donnward movement of the socket on the drive-shaft. Member 6 may be of any suitable form. I have shown it consistingof a plate 13, provided with depending fingers 14 adapted to engage and stir the clothes.

When the agitator is applied to a shallow tub I place set-screw 12 in one of the lowermost holes 11 to prevent fingers 1% from touching the bottom of the tub, and when it is applied to a deep tub the set-screw is placed in one of the uppermost holes, but in either event socket 5 is free to move up or down with member 6 so that the latter can adjust itself to the number of clothes in the tub.

The open end of the socket is above plate 13, so that when it moves up and down the clothes cannot get caught between said open end and the drive-shaft, and said socket also forms a receptacle for any oil that may flow downward upon the drive-shaft from the driving gear, preventing said oil from coming in contact with and soiling the clothes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In combination with the drive shaft of a washing machine and the clothes engaging member, a socket secured to said member having a closed bottom an open upper end and a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal channels, a pair of opposite feet of comparatively slight thickness carried by said drive shaft at its lower end to engage in said channels, said socket being formed with a plurality of screw holes arranged at different heights and a set screw for engagement in one of said holes to engage the top face of one of said feet and limit the downward movement of the socket, saidfeet on their under faces engaging the bottom of the socket and thereby limiting the upward movement of the latter.

In testimony whereof 1 a1 ix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLPH RAINALTEE.

Witnesses:

F. G. FISCHER, M. 00X. 

